THE Cheshire branch of a national campaign body for more family-friendly family law has appointed a new chairman.
And the first task for solicitor Janet Baines in her new post at Cheshire Resolution was to donate to Claire House Children’s Hospice the cash to buy booster seats for its mini bus.
A partner working in divorce and family law at Chester firm Walker Smith Way, Janet has been a member of Cheshire Resolution since it launched in the county in early 2005.
Resolution is a UK-wide non profit-making body of more than 5,000 family lawyers that is committed to non-confrontational resolutions to family disputes.
Once a year, Resolution branches donate any funds left over after running events to charity.
This year, the Cheshire branch has donated its surplus of £250 to Claire House, which is located in Bebington.
A specialist in all matters relating to the breakdown of relationships, Janet has worked at Walker Smith Way for 17 years. She joined the firm as a trainee legal executive, before qualifying as a solicitor in 1995.
In 2005, she was among the first three solicitors from the county to train in Collaborative Law.
Since then, Janet has resolved 33 cases using this new process, which brings opposing parties, and their lawyers, round a table to discuss issues relating to the breakdown of their relationship, as opposed to entering into lengthy letter writing or issuing court proceedings.
Janet, who lives in Mickle Trafford, said: “This approach started in California and is now taking off in the UK. In many cases it’s less painful and an easier route for both parties.
Misunderstandings can occur when conducting proceedings by letter, and matters can get blown out of proportion, causing unnecessary upset.
“My aim during my term as chairman of Cheshire Resolution is to increase the county membership. It would be ideal if every family lawyer in Cheshire could be a member and adopt this non-confrontational approach, which would make divorce less painful.”
She added: “I was really pleased to have such a pleasurable first task of making the donation on behalf of Resolution to Claire House, which is such a worthwhile cause.”
Claire House Fundraiser Val Shannon said: “We are so grateful to Cheshire Resolution for supporting us, as we rely totally on the generous public and companies to help us raise the funds needed to keep the doors open at Claire House Children’s Hospice.”
Boost for family-friendly law campaign group: Great News! As a victim of the family law system,